Ciudad Juárez, June 20 – The construction of “Viviendas del Bienestar” (Welfare Housing) in Ciudad Juárez has been stalled due to the Comisión Nacional del Agua’s (Conagua) refusal to authorize an increase in water extraction from aquifers. This federal agency’s approval is crucial for the provision of essential services to the planned housing units, despite the state government’s efforts to advance the project.
Water Extraction Authorization Key to Housing Project
Oscar Lozoya, the delegate for the Northern Zone of the Comisión Estatal de Vivienda, Suelo e Infraestructura (Coesvi), stated that while the Welfare Housing program is progressing well in other municipalities of Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez faces a unique challenge. “According to Sedatu, the federal government, the three states with the greatest backlog in Welfare Housing are Mexico City, State of Mexico, and Baja California Sur; all three are governed by the same political force. In Chihuahua, we are making good progress on the issue,” Lozoya remarked.
Significant progress has been reported in other parts of the state: Delicias has seen 72 percent completion, Jiménez 30 percent, and Ascensión 52 percent. However, in Ciudad Juárez, the construction has not commenced as it awaits a response from Conagua regarding the authorization to increase water extraction for human consumption. “So far, there has been no response, and therefore construction in Ciudad Juárez is stalled. The State Government, through Coesvi and various agencies, has done its part. We have already donated 20 hectares to the Federal Government for these homes to be built, but they cannot be constructed without the provision of services,” the state official affirmed.
New Water Law Impacts Project
Lozoya clarified that under the new General Water Law, enacted in 2025, the Junta Municipal de Agua y Saneamiento de Juárez (JMAS) cannot increase water extraction without the explicit authorization of the federal body, Conagua. This legislative change has added a layer of complexity to the project in Juárez.
Project Scope and Future Plans
The initial plan for Welfare Housing in Ciudad Juárez envisions the construction of 2,200 homes across the donated 20 hectares. Fifty percent of these units are designated for the Instituto del Fondo Nacional de la Vivienda para los Trabajadores (Infonavit), and the remaining 50 percent for the Comisión Nacional de Vivienda (Conavi). The homes in Ascensión and Juárez are planned to be 60 square meters of construction on 120 square meter plots, while Delicias and Jiménez are seeing multi-family units being built.
Coesvi is actively working to address the issue. “I ask the public not to be misled by politicians. In the state of Chihuahua, the housing program is progressing, derived from the agreement signed by our governor with the Federal Government, only that in Ciudad Juárez these services are missing, and a response from the National Water Commission is awaited,” Lozoya urged.
Calls for Public Awareness and Political Transparency
The Coesvi delegate emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding the reasons for the delay, urging citizens not to be swayed by political rhetoric. The state government has fulfilled its part by donating land, highlighting that the bottleneck lies with the federal agency’s authorization.
Broader Context of Housing and Water Management
This situation in Ciudad Juárez underscores the ongoing challenges in coordinating federal and state initiatives, particularly concerning essential resources like water. The new General Water Law of 2025 has introduced stricter regulations on water extraction, impacting urban development projects. The resolution of this issue will be critical for the timely delivery of housing to residents in Ciudad Juárez.
The community and local authorities are closely monitoring developments, hoping for a swift resolution that will allow the construction of these much-needed homes to proceed. The outcome will set a precedent for future collaborations between state and federal entities on critical infrastructure projects.
Source: https://nortedigital.mx/atora-conagua-construccion-de-viviendas-del-bienestar-en-juarez-coesvi/
